Clemson football must prepare for 'different' Alabama team in national championship game

SportsPulse: They've been on a collision course all year and will finally clash in Santa Clara. From Hard Rock Stadium, Trysta Krick and our college football experts preview the annual juggernaut matchup.
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As No. 2 Clemson and No. 1 Alabama prepare for Tide vs. Tigers, Part IV, it’s apparent that both teams are constructed somewhat differently than in their first three meetings.

Specifically, Alabama has become more of a passing team while Clemson has relied more heavily on the run this season than it has in many years.

The presence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who burst onto the scene last year and guided the Crimson Tide to the national title with a comeback victory against Georgia, has reinvented the Tide offense, at least somewhat.

Alabama coach Nick Saban still is partial to the run, but the running game has taken a back seat. The Tide averages 202 yards rushing per game, which ranks 33rd in the Football Bowl Subdivision, while Clemson is 10th nationally, averaging 256 yards per game.

Alabama will still try to establish the run, thanks primarily to Damien Harris, who pounded the Tigers for 77 yards on 19 carries in last year’s 24-6 victory against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl.

But rest assured that Tagovailoa will put some pressure on a Clemson secondary that has been suspect on occasion. Tagovailoa has blossomed this season, emerging as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks despite being just a sophomore.

He ranks No. 1 in the country in passing efficiency, third nationally with 41 touchdown passes and fifth national with a 69.5 completion percentage while throwing for 3,671 yards.

Tagovailoa is blessed with a couple of youthful but talented receivers in Jerry Jeudy and Jaylen Waddle. Jeudy, a sophomore and first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection, has 63 receptions for 1,176 yards with 13 touchdowns this season while Waddle, a freshman, has added 823 yards and seven scores on 43 catches.

Clemson’s offense has been prolific as well, particularly since freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence took over and made his first start in the fifth game of the season. Alabama ranks second in the nation in scoring at 47.7 points per game and Clemson is No. 4 at 44.3 points per game.

“Lawrence is a young player who has really given the balance they need in the passing game,” Saban said of Clemson. “They have great skill guys outside and they make a lot of explosive plays and can run the ball effectively and their defense has been phenomenal all year long.”

Bottom line: Two high-scoring offenses will be challenged by two of the nation’s top defenses, which should make for an interesting confrontation.Clemson is fifth in total offense (529.8), while Alabama is seventh (527.6). The Tigers are fourth in total defense (276.7), while Alabama is 10th (295.4).

The best tack for Clemson may be for the Tigers to exercise their depth and diversity. Clemson has multiple weapons at both receiver and running back, including their designated Crimson Tide “killer” in Hunter Renfrow. The senior wide receiver has 22 catches for 211 yards and four touchdowns in three career playoff games against Alabama, including the game-winning reception in the 2016 title game.